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Vic’s Mix

Founded in 2002 by Victor Quijada, RUBBERBANDance
Group (RBDG) immediately established itself as an explosive one-of-a-kind
troupe. Audiences in Halifax are in for a treat this weekend, as the company
brings its latest production - Vic’s Mix - to the city for two shows at the Sir
James Dunn Theatre. Recently we spoke with Quijada about the new work.

When
and why did you first become interested in dance?

As a young
boy in the early eighties - I saw breakin’ and popping in films, videos and in
the neighborhood and fell in love with Hip Hop Culture: the music, graffiti, and
especially the dancing. It felt amazing to do, and I would get a lot of
attention through dancing...it made me feel alive!

Are
they the same reasons that you continue to be involved today?

My
relationship with dance has been many things; it has changed and grown over the
years to include many facets and roles besides performer: choreographer,
director, teacher, coach, adjudicator. Life is movement. Movement is life.

What
are the challenges of the vocation?

This has
also changed over time. Years ago, the main challenge used to be the intense
demands on the body. Now it has more to do with balancing my family life &
being a father, with my professional life which requires me to travel quite a
bit.

What are the rewards?

The
rewards are collaborating with amazing artists, creating work that is
challenging and inspiring to me, pushing my colleagues to discover more of
themselves, and leaving an impact on an audience.

Is
your creative process more 'inspirational' or 'perspirational’?

Both!

What
inspired Vic’s Mix?

A retrospective
on the first 15 years of the company, allows me to revisit the ideas and
experiments that were the foundation for so much fantastic work.

How
has the production evolved since being initiated?

With this
“greatest hits” show, the pieces are modular. I have tweaked the set list
several times (adding or removing sections) and reworked the order into a
chronological run down of how the pieces were made. The show is super tight
since it opened over 2 years ago.

What
can audiences in Halifax expect to experience?

Whether
you have or haven’t seen the company, this program is a wild ride that is
unexpected and inspiring. I think it demystifies the marginal (sometimes
heady) and conceptual contemporary dance forms but goes way beyond the first
layer mainstream of popular dance. Vic’s Mix is a collection of meaningful
works that drip with athleticism and artistry.

What's
next on your creative agenda?

Besides Vic’s
Mix performances, next season we'll begin touring our new production throughout
Canada, the U.S., and in Europe. Ever So Slightly premiered in December 2018
and was nominated for the Grand Prix du Conseil des Arts de Montreal. The
70-minute work features incredible performances by 10 dancers and 2 multi-instrumental
musicians. I am very proud of this work and looking forward to sharing it with
audiences.